Thermowood Barrel Sauna

HC150 Thermowood garden barrel sauna with two seats

The Bloomcabin HC150 spans approximately 153 cm in length, 194 cm in width and 204 cm in height. Its ground area is about 2.97 m², making this an exceptionally small barrel model. It can work in gardens, structurally suitable terraces, courtyards and holiday homes where room is scarce. The cabin gives two people a cosy place for seated sauna sessions. An internal height of approximately 175 cm means it is planned around sitting rather than standing. Without a bed-length bench or separate anteroom, the compact cabin devotes all available interior room to the sauna.

Here you can assess the site and technical preparations the model requires, what its abbreviated barrel form means in daily use, and which matters to resolve ahead of purchase and construction. For a broader choice of dimensions and layouts, browse the Bloomcabin sauna range.

The HC150’s defining practical features

Consider the measurements, headroom, seated layout and electrical heating together. The proposed position must also leave workable clearance for construction, everyday entry and subsequent condition checks.

Thermowood defines the HC150

FSC®-certified Thermowood forms the HC150 structure. Heat modification reduces how readily the timber takes up moisture and moderates its movement as conditions change when compared with untreated wood. Those characteristics are valuable in a barrel cabin kept outdoors. Proper construction and periodic examination remain necessary, however. As a natural material, the timber will gradually develop a different appearance in response to daylight, precipitation and normal sauna use.

Prominent grain and the timber’s warm tone give the sauna its visual character. These qualities can sit comfortably beside decking, gravel, natural-stone finishes and garden planting. Even so, avoid enclosing the HC150 tightly with dense vegetation. Persistent shade, leaf fall and pockets that remain damp for longer all add to maintenance. Positioning the cabin where its outer faces can be reached allows routine examination and timely clearance of leaves or other natural debris.

Exposure to sunshine and weather will gradually shift the shade of the external timber; this is an ordinary outdoor ageing effect rather than proof that the surface is dirty. Use only appropriate treatments and observe the care information supplied by the manufacturer. Periodically examine the metal bands, exposed fasteners, seals and door. Prompt attention to anything unusual helps prevent water ingress or impaired operation. Stiff brushes and harsh cleaning agents risk harming the finish. Do not leave a damp cover against the cabin for extended periods, because trapped timber takes longer to dry.

Resolve the foundation and power arrangements early

An electrically powered sauna heater is specified for the HC150. What accompanies a particular order—including the heater, controller, stones and ancillary items—varies with the package selected. Photographs should not be treated as a contents list. Before purchasing, read both the model description and the complete details of what will be delivered. You can then identify the supplied equipment and arrange any omitted accessory or service in advance.

Finish the electrical design before construction starts. Using the manufacturer’s documentation and conditions at the property, a competent professional must establish the necessary cable, protective devices and connection method. An unsuitable lead, plug or other temporary arrangement is not acceptable. Fix the cable entry point during site planning; a route added afterwards may disrupt the garden or require completed surfaces to be opened again. Once commissioning is complete, store the heater, controller and connection records together somewhere dry and readily accessible. These papers allow a professional carrying out a later inspection to identify the equipment and its means of isolation from the electricity supply. Label the relevant circuit clearly where needed, and ensure every user understands normal operation and shutdown. Changes to the cable, controller or heater are not routine maintenance and require professional assessment. In Ireland, have a Registered Electrical Contractor decide whether the proposed work is Restricted Electrical Works and which completion certification applies.

Support the barrel cabin on a flat, structurally adequate base that will remain stable. Uneven movement or isolated settlement can strain the body and interfere with the door. The design must also direct precipitation away instead of allowing it to pool below the timber. Provide managed runoff and prevent outlets or channels from becoming blocked. For placement on an existing terrace, verify that both its surface and supporting structure can carry the finished sauna, its equipment and its users. Appearance alone says little about the capacity of the construction hidden underneath.

Site-specific planning, boundary clearance, building, electrical or fire provisions may affect the project. Before purchase and construction, ask the relevant local planning authority and suitably qualified contractors what applies to the property, including whether permission or exempted-development conditions need consideration. You can also consult our outdoor sauna planning guide.

Where does the HC150 work, and for whom?

Its suitability comes down to the regular users, the ground that can remain committed to the sauna, and whether a small cabin centred on seated sessions provides the experience you want.

HC150 or HC 180 – which barrel length fits better?

A minimal ground area and sit-down sessions are central to the HC150. That makes it attractive when spare centimetres are precious beside a home or on an appropriate terrace. The smallest option is not automatically the best choice, however. Think about how regularly both seats will be occupied, the movement room you value and the separation that feels comfortable while seated. Comparing models carefully may show that a longer cabin would be more enjoyable where the property can accommodate one.

The HC 180 adds approximately 34 cm to the barrel length and consequently gives occupants more leg and movement room. This two-person model also provides 175 cm of interior height. Its extra length therefore changes spaciousness more than posture: the HC 180 is not planned for standing or fully reclining either. Mark both external profiles on the proposed ground. Comparing them in place will show what the extra 34 cm does to circulation and remaining garden area, helping you decide whether the room gained indoors merits the larger site allocation.

A longer main cabin will not by itself provide shelter for dressing or belongings. If that separate function matters, examine a design with an anteroom, such as the N 210 . An anteroom provides a protected place for changing and storage, but needs additional space. Decide whether the HC150’s especially compact design or a separate area matters more to you.

Plan access, cooling-down space and care well

Design the approach from the house for secure footing during rain and after nightfall. Prioritise a stable, slip-resistant finish and useful lighting over ornamental garden details. Remove trailing cables, tools and irregular paving from the walking line. The area outside the doorway must accommodate its swing as well as safe entry and exit. Set aside somewhere comfortable for cooling down too. Depending on the site and personal routine, this may be a shower outdoors, a cold-water pool or a quiet seat. Maintain clear separation between water features and electrical installations, with the final arrangement reviewed by an appropriate professional.

Moist air needs an effective route out once a session ends. Use the operating and ventilation procedure provided for the selected equipment. Take out damp towels and loose possessions, deal gently with visible wetness, and ensure neither the intake nor extract openings are obstructed. Keep the cabin open as directed until that airing process is complete. Allow both the heater and room to become cool before beginning maintenance. Apply a suitable gentle cleaner sparingly to benches, flooring and other wooden parts; avoid soaking the timber or leaving pools of water. Regularly look over the doorway, hardware, gaskets and vents as well. Early inspection can reveal resistant moving parts, residue or developing changes in the wood. At holiday accommodation, nominate someone to air and clean the cabin and perform the closing inspection. Small tasks after each session are more manageable than infrequent, intensive cleaning.

Organise access, working room and construction order

Walk the entire handling route between the unloading position and the sauna site. Check gates as well as steps, low openings, tight bends, gradients and easily marked finishes. Prefabricated sections require sufficient manoeuvring room for safe lifting and turning. Before the vehicle or installers arrive, move portable obstructions and cover vulnerable surfaces. Where access passes through the home, a confined side passage or a neighbour’s land, secure the necessary arrangement well beforehand. Prepare for commissioning too: clear away tools and packaging, leave the approach unobstructed and readily visible at night, and have the electrical work properly completed. Because there is no anteroom, establish a sheltered, dry point beyond the cabin for robes, towels and personal effects. This avoids crowding the interior and keeps circulation between the home, cooling place and sauna straightforward. Finally, nominate the person accepting the order and verify that both the drop-off area and onward route will be open at the scheduled time.

Construction requires a larger clear zone than the completed cabin will occupy. Installers need room to place, organise and safely fit the sections, so remove furniture, containers and stored items from the vicinity. Verify after construction that nothing restricts the door. Keep service points, metal bands and all outer faces within reach for later examination. Crowding the barrel against a wall, balustrade or hedge makes upkeep awkward and may leave surrounding surfaces slow to shed moisture.

Sequence the base work, cabin construction and electrical tasks in advance. Bring the supply to its designated position without letting it obstruct the assembly team. The work zone should be flat, clean and straightforward for everyone involved to reach. Before fitting begins, reconcile the delivered sections and chosen package with the accompanying papers. Afterwards, protect the assembly, user and maintenance documents from damp and store them where they can be retrieved for commissioning, upkeep or any subsequent inspection.

Common questions on the Bloomcabin HC150